title: Pancreas-specific Cre driver lines and considerations for their prudent use.
abstract: Cre/LoxP has broad utility for studying the function, development, and oncogenic transformation of pancreatic cells in mice. Here we provide an overview of the Cre driver lines that are available for such studies. We discuss how variegated expression, transgene silencing, and recombination in undesired cell types have conspired to limit the performance of these lines, sometimes leading to serious experimental concerns. We also discuss preferred strategies for achieving high-fidelity driver lines and remind investigators of the continuing need for caution when interpreting results obtained from any Cre/LoxP-based experiment performed in mice.
authors.affiliation: Center for Stem Cell Biology and Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN 37232, USA. mark.magnuson@vanderbilt.edu
authors.forename: Mark A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Magnuson
authors.forename: Anna B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Osipovich
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004254:DNA Nucleotidyltransferases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D019426:Integrases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D023421:Models, Animal; D010179:Pancreas / Q000378:metabolism*; D010187:Pancreatic Hormones / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008249:Protein-Lysine 6-Oxidase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D055647:Rats, Transgenic; D011995:Recombination, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D019076:Transgenes / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins; D010187:Pancreatic Hormones; C077112:Lox protein, mouse; D008249:Protein-Lysine 6-Oxidase; C045073:Cre recombinase; D004254:DNA Nucleotidyltransferases; D019426:Integrases; C077570:Site-specific recombinase